January 4th’s edition of WWE Monday Night Raw did what has to be considered a disappointing number given it was the first week since September that they were without any NFL competition.
The show did 3.57 million viewers, even with the advertising of Roman Reigns defending the WWE title against Sheamus with Vince McMahon as referee. Worse, even with no football to blame, the second and third hours dropped from the second strongest first hour since April. The number is lower than what the show had been doing in the summer.
The rating is almost identical to last week when Raw went against the highest rated NFL game of the season, and it’s usually normal to expect a 10 percent increase just based on no NFL competition alone. It is up from the football season average, but given the ratings the first two McMahon appearances drew, it was down from the first and the same as the second without the competition.
Raw was the highest rated show on cable for the night, however, slightly ahead of The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News.
Minneapolis, Minnesota: – George Gordienko beat Dave Levin – Buddy Rogers beat Ben Morgan
1967
Minneapolis, Minnesota: – “Pretty Boy” Larry Hennig & “Handsome” Harley Race regained the AWA world tag team titles from Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher – Killer Kowalski beat Verne Gagne dq – Reggie Parks beat the Alaskan – Jack Lanza beat Big K – Chris Markoff beat Doug Gilbert
1970
Tampa, Florida: – Brass Knuckles Title: Danny Miller defeated Missouri Mauler to win the title – Florida Tag Titles: Cyclon Negro & Jack Brisco defeated Chris Markoff & Bronko Lubich to win the titles – Mr. Saito defeated Bob Orton by dq – Mephisto & Dante drew Sam Steamboat & Thunderbolt Patterson – Bob Roop defeated Aldo Bogni – Bobo Johnson defeated Buddy Colt
1973
Minneapolis, Minnesota: – Ray Stevens & Nick Bockwinkel regained the AWA tag titles from Verne Gagne & Billy Robinson – The Crusher beat Dusty Rhodes dq – Superstar Billy Graham beat Wahoo McDaniel – Ivan Koloff beat Reggie Parks – Bob Bruggers beat Big K dq – Ric Flair beat Johnny Heidman – Jim Brunzell drew Tinker Todd
1975
West Palm Beach, Florida: – NWA Title: Jack Brisco defeated Dory Funk, Jr. by dq – Texas Bullrope Match: Dusty Rhodes defeated The Mongolian Stomper – Jos LeDuc defeated “Cowboy” Bill Watts
1976
Tampa, Florida: – NWA Title: Terry Funk draw Billy Robinson – Texas Tornado Match: Bob Roop & King Curtis defeated Big Bad John & Dusty Rhodes – Florida Tag Titles: Eddie & Mike Graham defeated Karl Von Steiger & Bob Orton, Jr to retain titles – Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Frank Goodish – Rocky Johnson defeated Mike York – Jerry Brisco defeated Killer Kowalski – Dino Bravo defeated Rip Hawk
1977
– Ed Wiskowski drew with Pat O’Conner – Harley Race downed Mitsuo Hata – Central States title match: Bob Slaughter (Sgt. Slaughter) beat Mike George to retain title – NWA World title match: Champion Terry Funk took 2 out of 3 falls from Bulldog Bob Brown to retain title
1983
San Juan, Puerto Rico: – Title Unification Match: Carlos Colon, the WWC world heavyweight title defeated Ric Flair, the NWA Champions. (Title change was not recognized and Flair returned to the United States as NWA champion)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: – Jerry Blackwell & Sheik Adnan beat Mad Dog Vachon & Jim Brunzell – Hulk Hogan beat Ken Patera dq – Wahoo McDaniel beat Rene Goulet – Rick Martel beat Bobby Duncum – Buck Zumhofe beat Bobby Heenan – Baron Von Raschke beat Tom Lintz
1984
St. Louis, Missouri: – NWA Champion Ric Flair beat King Kong Brody dq – Harley Race beat David Von Erich to win the Missouri State Title – AWA Tag Team Champions Ken Patera & Jerry Blackwell beat Dick the Bruiser & Gene Kiniski (sub Ted DiBiase) – Dory Funk Jr drew Bob Orton Jr – Ron Ritchie beat 666 (sub Buddy Landell) – Tully Blanchard (sub Buck Robley) beat Buzz Tyler – King Cobra & Tiger Mask beat Roger Kirby & Scott Farris
1985
Greensboro, North Carolina: – Magnum T.A. won the 20-man battle royal – NWA Champion Ric Flair beat Harley Race – Lights Out match: Don Kernodle beat Ivan Koloff – NWA Tag Team Champions Dusty Rhodes & Manny Fernandez beat AWA Tag Team Champions Road Warriors – non title match: Magnum TA beat US Champion Wahoo McDaniel – Tully Blanchard beat Dick Slater – Charlie Brown & Assassin I & Buzz Tyler beat Superstar Billy Graham & Ron Bass & JJ Dillon
Orlando, Florida: – Florida Title: Brian Blair defeated Jesse Barr to win the title – Sweet Brown Sugar defeated Jack Hart – “Pistol” Pez Whatley defeated Mike Golden – PYT defeated Pez Whatley & Scott McGhee – Texas Tornado Match: Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts defeated Jim Neidhart & Krusher Kruschev – Lumberjack Match: Dutch Mantell defeated The Saint
1987
Tampa, Florida: – Southern Title: Bad News Allen defeated Lex Luger to win the title – Kendall Windham & Vic Steamboat defeated The Sheepherders – Ron Simmons defeated Ed “The Bull” Gantner dq – Stan Lane & Dewey Forte defeated Sean Royal & Chris Champion dq
1992
Miami, Florida: – Kerry Von Erich defeated Hercules – WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart defeated the Mountie – IRS defeated the Big Bossman – Hulk Hogan defeated Ric Flair via countout
2003
Phoenix, Arizona: – Lance Storm & William Regal defeated WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Booker T & Goldust to win the tag team titles
2008
Orlando, Florida: – TNA Tag Team champions AJ Styles & Tomko defeated Samoa Joe & Kevin Nash to retain the titles – TNA champion Kurt Angle defeated Christian Cage to retain the title
It’s the Bryan & Vinny & Adam Show! Adam joins us tonight as a big thank you for a kind donation to Whale Scout during the annual fundraiser drive last month, and we’re all here to talk Raw and Nitro from 19 years ago this week! The build for Royal Rumble and the epic SOULED OUT plus more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Smackdown spoilers from tonight in Laredo for the first show on the USA Network Thursday night:
The announcing team was Mauro Ranallo, Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton.
John Cena came out and issued a challenge to Alberto Del Rio for the U.S. title, coming off the finish of their Raw match last week. Del Rio refused to give Cena another title match.
Kalisto pinned Del Rio in a non-title match. Said to be really good.
The Miz had a Miz TV segment. The New Day came out and they started complaining about Chris Jericho. Dolph Ziggler then came out and was backed up by Goldust, R-Truth and Neville.
This led to an eight-man tag where Ziggler & Goldust & R-Truth & Neville beat The New Day & Miz.
Charlotte beat Becky Lynch to retain the Divas title due to outside help from her father.
Dean Ambrose went to a double count out to retain the IC title in a match with Kevin Owens.
Nearly one year after their debut on Destination America, TNA Impact Wrestling debuts on Pop TV and is live from Bethlehem, PA, Tuesday night. The show is rumored to feature some possible returns of major stars and debuts of new talent. Already announced for tonight is the conclusion of the World Title Series with Lashley taking on Ethan Carter III and Matt Hardy vs. Eric Young in the semifinals. The winners will meet in the finals to crown a new TNA World Champion.
Also, Bobby Roode defends his King Of The Mountain Title and The Beautiful People take on The Dollhouse. Plus, the character behind the “Miracle” vignettes should be revealed tonight.
All this and more on Tonight’s TNA Impact debut on Pop TV at 9pm.
*****
We start off with a good video package, and a quick preview of the World Title Series and the four participants in the semi-finals.
Impact’s Pop TV debut features a new opening video package and theme song written and performed by Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins. Of course, Corgan isn’t just a rock star, but is also TNA’s Senior Producer of Creative and Talent Development. It’s a pretty sweet beat and nice opening.
Josh Matthews and The Pope welcome us to the show. They’re ringside tonight and not at Impact Central. Josh calls Pope the most entertaining color commentator.
Dixie Carter in the ring. She said “they chose” Pop TV for many reasons and gets some “Thank You Dixie” chants. She says wrestling is a vital part of pop culture and that a vital part of wrestling is the World belt. Cue the most annoyingly catchy music in wrestling: “Trouble, Trouble, Trouble”. EC3 and Tyrus cut her off. He gets booed but it turns into “EC3” chants. EC3 says he’s not champion because of Dixie. Please don’t let this end with Dixie getting arrested. Matt Hardy comes out. They recap the TNA World Title situation since Bound For Glory. This seems to imply it’s going to be Hardy vs. EC3 in the finals. Eric Young jumps Hardy and gets tripled teamed by Young, EC3 and Tyrus. Lashley finally hits the ring for the save. Hardy hits a sick dive off the top rope taking out EC3, Tyrus and Lashley.
– During the commercial, Young beats down Hardy.
TNA World Title Tourney Semifinal Match 1: EC3 vs. Lashley
Josh runs down all the hashtags and Twitter handles we should follow. Lashley and EC3 go back and forth. Lashley hits his spear but EC3 rolls to the outside. Dueling chants for EC3 and Lashley. Tyrus slams Lashley on the outside. Pope is very mad that Tyrus interfered and is sick of it. Josh plugs Schitt’s Creek starring Eugene Levy. It’s a pretty good show. Tyrus distracts Lashley and EC3 rolls him up for the win. EC3 advances to the finals.
– Backstage, Kurt Angle is walking to the ring.
– Bobby Roode walks into the arena earlier in the day. He talks about his King of the Mountain match and that the challenge is open to anyone.
Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle walks to the ring. Angle gets emotional from the crowd response. Kurt mentions that he is retiring. The crowd chants, “One More Match.” Kurt names guys he’s had great matches with like Rock, Austin, HHH, Undertaker and AJ Styles (which gets the biggest pop out of all the names). Kurt announces a farewell tour and wonders whom he should face. He names Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards. He handpicked his opponent for next week’s Farewell Tour. Is the whole Tour happening in one night? His opponent is going be Drew Galloway who comes out. Drew is honored that Kurt chose him.
They get interrupted by Jesse Godderz. He takes a selfie (I think I’ve seen that before). Eli Drake interrupts. Eli says that Jesse is really popular with 13-year-old girls and calls Angle a dinosaur. They’re both mad that Angle didn’t mention them as part of the future. This all leads to a Kurt and Drew brawl with Jesse and Eli.
– Backstage, Young cuts a promo. He says Hardy isn’t showing up and wants him counted out. Hardy comes out.
TNA World Title Tourney Semifinal Match 2: Matt Hardy vs. Eric Young
They brawl on the outside. Hardy is currently showing no signs of injury from earlier in the night. Eric Young is in control of the early part of the match. Hardy gains the advantage. Eric Young hits the piledriver on the outside of the exposed floor. There’s a light “holy shit” chant. Jeff comes out to check on Matt but EY takes out Jeff with a sliding dropkick. Matt scores with the twist of fate out of nowhere for the win. The final match will be Matt Hardy vs. EC3 (although they kind of gave that away in the opening segment).
– Backstage, somebody in a hoodie is shown walking but his face isn’t visable. Josh wonders who it could be.
– Back from commercial, EY is mad that he lost the semifinal.
– EC3 approaches Jeff and says that Matt has lived in Jeff’s shadow. Jeff denies that Matt lived in his shadow.
– Roode comes out for his KOTM match. Bram accepts the open challenge. Bram says that “2006” will be his year.
King Of The Mountain Champion Bobby Roode vs. Bram
Bram dominates Roode, and gets a two count with a roll up holding the tights. Josh says Bobby has promised to have a great “2015″. Does anyone in TNA know what year it is? Roode hits the Roode bomb and gets the win, retaining the title. They then accidentally played the start of Beer Money’s music, giving away the upcoming surprise.
EY hits the ring and attacks Roode. Bram and EY double-team Roode which leads to James Storm making his return to TNA who came through the crowd for the save. Pope and Josh wonder if he works for TNA. Turns out the rumors about his return are true. Storm is upset that TNA gave him the “Biggest Disappointment” Slammy…er… Impact Award. Storm says that he and Roode drank a lot of beer and made a lot of money together. They’re teasing a Beer Money reunion. Storm offers Roode a beer. Crowd encourages him to drink the beer. It’s a really big deal to Josh. They have a beer together and the crowd loves it.
– JB is with the Beautiful People backstage. Angelina is 7 months pregnant, so the Beautiful People get to pick Angelina’s replacement tonight.
– Back from commercial, Beer Money challenges Bram and EY to a match to this Friday’s PPV (which is the first mention of the PPV this whole show.)
The Beautiful People vs. The Dollhouse
Angelina’s replacement is Knockouts Champion Gail Kim. Josh promotes the Knockouts Calendar. Pope claims he bought so many they’re might not be any left. All the Knockouts are in the ring brawling. The crowd is a bit flat. Gail rolls up Jade for the win. The Dollhouse attacks Gail and The Beautiful People after the match. Awesome Kong comes out for the save. The Dollhouse is scared but they don’t leave the ring. Kong turns heel and attacks The Beautiful People! Kong takes out Kim. The Dollhouse and Awesome Kong pose over the fallen body of Gail Kim.
– Josh promos The Miracle vignettes. The Miracle is coming up next.
– Back from commercial, Josh and Pope start talking but they’re cut off.
The lights go out in the arena and the First Lady of Wrestling Maria Kanellis appears on the stage. She says that fans have been praying and hoping for the person who will save wrestling. The crowd pops for that. She introduces “Miracle” Mike Bennett. Maria looks great and Mike’s wearing a sweet looking hat. He calls himself a superhero, a bad mo’fo and “your pro wrestling Jesus.” He cut a really good intense promo and came across like a big star.
– The camera seceretly catches Matt Hardy with his family backstage. He promises to win the title for his family.
TNA World Title Final: Matt Hardy vs. EC3
After the ring intros, Matt and EC3 send Jeff and Tyrus to the back. EC3 has the advantage on Hardy. Pope points out that Matt Hardy and EC3 is how the title controversy began. Hardy goes for the Side Effect on the ring steps but they botched the spot bad and both fell awkwardly off the steel steps. The crowd is solidly behind Matt. Hardy hits a series of Side Effects but still can’t put EC3 away. EC3 hits two TKOs in a row. Pope says they’re having a “Match of The Year” candidate. They both kick out of each other’s finishers. EC3 hits the One Percenter off the tope rope for the win! EC3 is the new TNA World Champion.
Josh points out that EC3 won the title without the help of Tyrus.
Hardy walks pass his wife and child on the ramp. They stop on top of the stage. Matt’s wife seemed to scream something in his ear. Hardy walks off. She then looks back and the camera zoomed in on her face. The show ends with EC3 posing with the world title.
Final Thoughts:
Not a bad debut for Impact on Pop TV tonight but also nothing really spectacular of note. “Miracle” Mike Bennett and Maria’s debut was done well. The main event was a good match that the crowd was into. Also, the new theme song is kind of fun.
The huge news story which broke early Monday morning, is that former IWGP and TNA Champion AJ Styles, former IWGP Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson have given notice to New Japan Pro Wrestling. We have more here. It appears that those with current NJPW contracts will be finishing up their contracted dates before heading to WWE. It is unknown whether or not they will start on the main roster or head to NXT. It seems obvious, but that’s not always the route WWE takes, as we’ve seen with Samoa Joe and others who were ready when they signed. Bryan and Dave did an extra show yesterday with Filthy Tom discussing the situation. NJPW booker Gedo was told right before the big Tokyo Dome show, Wrestle Kingdom 10, about losing the talent, but apparently no finishes were changed.
Chris Jericho re-re-re-re-debuted last night on Monday Night Raw, and did some ridiculously unfunny comedy with the New Day. We’re looking for reports from Raw in San Antonio with Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus for the WWE title with Vince McMahon as referee, with anything not evident from the broadcast.
We’re also looking for reports on WWE show in Corpus Christi (Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens for IC title; Kane vs. Bray Wyatt) to Dave Meltzer.
Don’t forget! The first Smackdown on the USA Network will be taped on Tuesday night in Laredo. Mauro Ranallo debuts as announcer and John Cena will be on the show.
TNA ON POP TV AT 9 P.M. FROM BETHLEHEM, PA
Matt Hardy vs. Ethan Carter III
Bobby Lashley vs Eric Young
Winners of these two matches meet for the vacant TNA title
More information on Gawker’s motion to dismiss Hulk Hogan’s sex tape lawsuit, tons more.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
We have our annual business year in review as the lead of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week. We cover our awards balloting year from 12/1/14 to 11/30/15 looking at the biggest events and biggest draws, with the year’s biggest crowds, records set in several different companies, Cena compared to those in similar positions on the all-time list, the year’s PPV buys for every wrestling, MMA and boxing show, how this year compared with other years.
Dwayne Johnson returning for WrestleMania, different ideas of where he may fit in, and his recent track record of WrestleMania matches.
The history of New Japan on January 4th at the Tokyo Dome. The first New Japan Tokyo Dome show and its main event, what drew the first house, what Lou Thesz said to Antonio Inoki after the show and why Thesz thought the result was a good thing and why it ended up being a waste. We look at how this year’s show will differ from last year as well as a match-by-match rundown and a look at the history of the New Japan big four, Tanahashi, Okada, A.J. Styles and Nakamura, with all of their previous Tokyo Dome matches.
Jonathan Coachman on HGH usage in WWE, why usage is so prevalent in certain types of sports and entertainment.
WWE injury coverage, why WWE stars are doing more NBC media, how movies with Sting are doing at the box office, how the WWE’s head of medical came across in the movie “Concussion” plus a concussion expert on Daniel Bryan situation. Update on Nikki Bella, NXT sellouts, Brock Lesnar’s next match, Cena facing a surprise opponent, Chris Jericho on future, Royal Rumble, Sin Cara injury update, NXT in Dallas, the go-home show for WrestleMania, two international stars about to start with WWE and the Bayley character on the main roster.
The holiday show in Madison Square Garden coverage, Ben Askren talks about One’s possibly revolutionary weight cutting regulations that could be the catalyst for changing MMA. We look at the first Rizin show, the sad spectacle of Sakuraba, the pro wrestlers on the show, the mentality behind why certain people were on the show and match-by-match coverage.
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer
For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today.
The Royal Rumble PPV will be given away for FREE on the WWE Network as was announced last night on Raw (first time subscribers only). The announcement came on a day where investors lost a bit of confidence in the WWE stock which finished down 23 cents to $17.61 per share and is down another 38 cents today, as of this update.
The Miz says WWE talent is drug tested ”non-stop, all day, every day.” Isn’t it more like “quarterly?” At least as of September 2007, when program administrator Dr. David Black was interviewed as part of the Congressional inquiry into pro wrestling, four times a year was the guaranteed minimum. At the time, it was a recent change from aiming for four times a year as the average.
UFC/MMA
EA Sports announced the release date of the new EA Sports UFC 2 video game as March 16 and released the first gameplay trailer. You can pre-order the game now, and it was announced that pre-orders will come with a code to get Kazushi Sakuraba, Bas Rutten, and a mystery fighter to be named later as downloadable content.
Jose Aldo became just the third MMA fighter (after Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey) to make the Forbes 30 under 30 list. He is also the only Brazilian on the list. According to Forbes, it is a list of the “brightest young entrepreneurs, breakout talents and change agents in 20 different sectors” and Aldo made the athletes group. Neither Jones nor Rousey (nor Conor McGregor for that matter) are on this year’s list.
WSOF announced the final two fights for its main card broadcast on NBC Sports Network, the company’s next show. All four fighters are complete unknowns. Two unbeaten welterweights, Jaleel Willis (6-0) and Chauncey Foxworth (2-0), square off in one while two lightweights, Bryce Mitchell (4-0) and Jorge Medina (4-2), meet in the other. The show is headlined by former UFC fighter Mike Ricci squaring off with Joe Condon in a lightweight bout.
Former Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Emanuel Newton will face Linton Vassell at Bellator 149 in a fight announced by the promotion today. This is a rematch of a fight they had when Newton was champion, where Vassell was winning by dominating the grappling until, out of nowhere, Newton got a rear naked choke out of nowhere for the win. The show takes place on February 19th in Houston and is headlined by the double spectacle of Ken Shamrock v Royce Gracie and Kimbo Slice v Dada 5000.
A website in India has a feature on an fighter turned actress cast to play a boxer. Calling her a “national-level kick boxer who is well-versed with mixed martial arts and is a black belt in karate,” the article discusses transition of Ritika Singh from combat sports to acting in Bollywood.
This week’s Between the Sheets podcast features WWN Live announcer/FSM columnist/former NXT Creative Assistant Rob Naylor joining the show to discuss December 29, 1986 – January 4, 1987 including the chances that Wrestlemania III gets cancelled because of Andre the Giant’s back problems, Paul Orndorff’s neck and shoulder issues, AJPW & NJPW foreigner wackiness, Jesse Ventura in Arnold movies, all sorts of territory goodness especially our love of Continental, and Rob’s love of Vladimir Petrov
On the latest 6:05 Superpodcast, David Bixenspan and Brian Last discuss Mario Galento exposing the business in 1974, the amazing story of Jack Donovan getting ambushed in a Tennessee locker room, Dark Journey’s surprising new career, and more.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive returns today with tons to discuss including WWE raiding New Japan, Raw from Monday night, Roman Reigns entering the Royal Rumble to defend the title, plus Bobby Lashley appears to talk TNA’s debut on POP TV tonight! A fun show as always so check it out~!
On the induction weekend of July 14-16, Dave will be recognized during the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction weekend. The Jim Melby Award recognizes excellence in professional journalism, named in honor of Jim Melby, a professional wrestling historian and journalist. Tickets are available for the entire weekend by emailing the museum or by calling (319) 233-0745.
Also set to be inducted during the weekend: former UFC fighter and MMA personality Chael Sonnen. Four more inductees will be announced later this year.
From the press release:
“I am very proud to receive this honor because of what it entails and because of my great respect for Jim Melby and the connection with Lou Thesz,” said Meltzer. “In 1971, I sent a newsletter to Melby, and he praised it in his fan club column in Wrestling Monthly Magazine. I started getting subscribers based on his recommendation. The truth is, there is not a chance in the world my life would have taken the turn it did without Melby, and he was so gracious with me when I was in my preteen and teenager years.”
Besides his work being read here on our site, Dave can also be read on MMA Fighting.com where he contributes as an MMA Senior Writer. He’s published, edited, and written the Observer newsletter since 1983 and has worked for The National Sports Daily and Yahoo Sports in his long career.
NBC announced Tuesday morning that former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will be hosting the Saturday, January 23rd episode of Saturday Night Live, putting her in a very small category of athletes who have hosted an episode of the iconic series.
Yahoo’s Kevin Iole reported the story this morning, confirming reports from those close to the show that had started surfacing two days earlier.
Rousey will be the first MMA fighter to host the show. Rousey was actually in Dwayne Johnson’s backstage entourage when he hosted the show this past March, the night before WrestleMania when the two did the in-ring skit together with HHH and Stephanie McMahon.
Iole noted that the only previous fighters to host the show have been Marvin Hagler and George Foreman. Past athletes who have hosted include Michael Jordan, Chris Evert, Derek Jeter, Lebron James, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning.
After appearing in the Entourage movie and Furious 7, Rousey is set to be the lead in the Road House reboot that will film this year.
